Nicole Burns
WESTBROOK
Summary
With over eight years of executive leadership at Wilsonton State High School and prior experience at Toowoomba State High School, I have successfully served as the Head of Special Education Services. This role has enabled the development of strong capabilities in staff leadership and implementation of personalized learning strategies, optimizing the learning potential and success of a diverse range of students. Before my time at Wilsonton, I worked at Toowoomba State High School in positions such as teacher, case manager, and leadership roles within the Special Education department.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Head of Department - Special Education
Wilsonton State High School
01.2017 - Current
- Promoted a safe and inclusive learning environment by addressing student needs, both academically and emotionally.
- Coordinated community outreach efforts to strengthen partnerships between the school and local organizations.
- Implemented successful intervention strategies to support struggling students and close achievement gaps.
- Assisted in hiring new faculty members who were dedicated to excellence in teaching and committed to student success.
- Managed budgets effectively while prioritizing resources for maximum impact on student outcomes.
- Developed a positive school culture through effective communication and collaboration among staff, students, and parents.
- Trained teachers on effective teaching techniques, classroom management strategies, and behavior modification.
- Monitored and evaluated educational programs to maintain high-quality performance objectives and standards.
- Cultivated positive relationships between community members, school students, and teachers.
- Communicated policies and procedures to students and parents regarding student behavior.
- Oversaw schedule management and protocols for orientation, registration, and related activities.
- Collaborated with administration staff to develop functional budgets within allocated funds.
Deputy Principal (Special Education - HOSES 4)
Toowoomba State High School
07.2016 - 01.2017
- Leadership as HOSES: High Impact Teaching pedagogies supported in every classroom
- Consistent and aligned curriculum
- Individualised case management and planning for students with support or extension needs
- Student wellbeing and leadership
- Building teacher capability
- Parent and community participation
- Promoted a safe and inclusive learning environment by addressing student needs, both academically and emotionally.
- Managed budgets effectively while prioritizing resources for maximum impact on student outcomes.
- Developed a positive school culture through effective communication and collaboration among staff, students, and parents.
- Served as a positive role model and leader within the school community, fostering an environment of respect, trust, and support among all stakeholders.
- Oversaw schedule management and protocols for orientation, registration, and related activities.
- Instructed small groups of teachers and students.
Special Education Teacher and Case Manager
Toowoomba State High School
03.2001 - 07.2016
- Curriculum adjustment and delivery
- Design and implementation of personalised plans to incorporate individualised learning opportunities and support provisions
- Strong relationships with stakeholders to support changing needs of students throughout secondary school
- Created and managed IEPs to define student learning objectives and educational strategies, in addition to applying instructional knowledge and methods to support goals.
- Promoted a positive learning environment through the use of differentiated instruction and individualized support for diverse learners.
- Modified general education curriculum for special-needs students using various instructional techniques and technologies.
- Fostered strong relationships with parents and guardians, maintaining open lines of communication to ensure student progress.
- Delivered effective and differentiated classroom instruction to range of neurodiverse students.
- Implemented individualized education plans for students with diverse learning needs, ensuring personalized support.
Education
Master of Education - Inclusive Education and Learning Support
Queensland University of Technology
01.1999
Graduate Diploma in Education - Secondary
Queensland University of Technology
01.1997
Bachelor of Applied Science - Biochemistry/Microbiology
Queensland University of Technology
01.1996
Skills
- Customer service
- Staff management
- Team leadership
- Team supervision
- Problem-solving
- Training and mentoring
- Task delegation
- Personnel training and development
- Relationship building and management
- Employee scheduling
- Conflict de-escalation
- Employee management
- Budget management
- Personnel management
- Verbal and written communication
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Problem resolution
Previous Work Roles
- Toowoomba State High School, Head of Special Education Services, 03/01/15 - Present, Wilsonton Campus
- Toowoomba State High School, Special Education Teacher and Case Manager, 03/01/01 - Present, Curriculum adjustment and delivery; Design and implementation of personalised plans to incorporate individualised learning opportunities and support provisions; Strong relationships with stakeholders to support changing needs of students throughout secondary school.
Accomplishments
- High Impact Teaching pedagogies in every class based on research-driven practice.
- Worked with HODS to determine Critical Content.
- Lead teams in developing unambiguous lesson design, differentiated unit plans and feedback systems.
- Delivery of tailored teaching within the core principles of Know the Student, Know the Curriculum, Vary the Pathway, Explicitly Teach and Build Capacity.
- Collaboration on developing an internal curriculum audit with middle managers.
- Curriculum differentiation embedded.
- Engaged in school-wide Differentiation systems allowing Head of Department to differentiate curriculum for all learners.
- Aligning school-wide curriculum plans to meet P-12 Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting policy.
- Development, evaluation and tracking of student engagement: attendance, effort, behaviour.
- Leadership of student achievement review and planning with key stakeholders: A-C targets, NAPLAN.
- Leadership school-wide variations to reporting in One School for all diverse learners across both campuses.
- Authoring and implementation of Individual Learning Plans for all students at and below NMS in reading, writing and numeracy.
- Undertaken ASDAN training to support student success in QCIA attainment.
- Tracking, monitoring, reporting systems for individuals and identified target groups.
- Co-ordination and provision of case management and support to over 200 students with individual learning plans (diverse learners – EALD, Indigenous, Learning Support, SEP, OHC).
- Engaged in complex case management project at Mt Lofty.
- Facilitate Restorative Practices as a foundation of our school’s Responsible Behaviour Plan.
- Engage in design and delivery of Pastoral care and targeted well-being programs.
- Support the school’s Anti-Bullying policy and implement this policy with teachers, students, Year level coordinators and parents/community.
- Integral member of the school’s large Support Team delivering a holistic approach to student well-being.
- Implementation of framework for the school’s Social and Emotional capability.
- Implementation of anti-bullying policy.
- Member of newly established Staff and Student Wellbeing Committee.
- Pedagogical coaching and feedback for all teaching staff both verbal and written.
- Strong systems knowledge and lead my faculty with the implementation and ongoing functionality development of One School.
- Leading data literacy with staff at a class level, year level, faculty/subject level and whole school.
- Co-ordination of Performance Review process for all faculty staff and shifting the notion of Professional Development from an external view to developing a Professional Learning Community within the school.
- Maintain strong relationships with feeder schools to support transition and enrolment.
- Collaborate with agencies to support and implement programs within the school.
- Communicating to parents/carers through Information Nights, Parent interviews, Meet and Greet events and Master classes.
Work Phone
4639 0444
Personal Information
Date of Birth: 03/02/74
Current Work Role
Toowoomba State High School, Head of Special Education Services, Leadership as HOSES, High Impact Teaching pedagogies supported in every classroom, Consistent and aligned curriculum, Individualised case management and planning for students with support or extension needs, Student wellbeing and leadership, Building teacher capability, Parent and community participation
Certification
- [State] Driver's License
- [Area of certification]
Languages
Auslan
Professional Working
Timeline
Head of Department - Special Education
Wilsonton State High School
01.2017 - Current
Deputy Principal (Special Education - HOSES 4)
Toowoomba State High School
07.2016 - 01.2017
Special Education Teacher and Case Manager
Toowoomba State High School
03.2001 - 07.2016
Graduate Diploma in Education - Secondary
Queensland University of Technology
Bachelor of Applied Science - Biochemistry/Microbiology
Queensland University of Technology
Master of Education - Inclusive Education and Learning Support
Queensland University of Technology
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